Finding Our Voices Today

Krishna arrived in the U.S. from Haiti just over 2 years ago full of hope, wonder and promise. With a temporary protected status she finally felt safe and ready to take on new goals and challenges to make a life and career for herself. Leaving behind her aunt, brother, and cousin in Haiti, and her mother living in Suriname, she saw a future ahead of her full of opportunity and safety. She ached for their touch and to see them in person but thankfully technology bridged the distance and inspired her to persist while providing strength on her darkest days. In the U.S. she has created a life full of education, hard work, and friendship. Her first initiative was to learn English so she immediately registered for classes and attended adult education knowing this was as essential key to create independence. While going to classes 4 days a week, she also worked full time at a local grocery store. She was committed to her goals and deeply grateful to the many opportunities she was able to take advantage of. Adult education classes offered English, but also helped create a new community of friends along with a network of teachers and administrators who supported her along the way. She successfully graduated from that program in June 2025. She knew learning English was just the start to build her future, but simultaneously she felt called to a career in healthcare. Krishna enrolled in a Certified Nurse Aide certification course at a local community college where she engaged in lectures, labs, ESL class for medical curriculum support, and clinicals providing experience at the hospital and a local nursing home. After much hard work and study, she successfully passed the exam and is now certified. While continuing to look for a position at a nursing home, she is grateful for her work and the opportunities to improve her communication skills. With Krishna’s internal motivation to succeed there is no doubt she will continue to persevere and keep moving forward wherever she may live. She is committed to her personal and professional goals and despite the challenges she remains faithful and positive about her future.

Dr. Nupsie-flore Exantus moved from Haiti to the United States when she was in 6th grade at the age of 11. It was a cold Christmas Day when she arrived to join her two older sisters who were here prior to her arrival. The only English she knew was how to say was “Good Morning.” She was quickly enrolled into a new arrivals program at school and had many immigrant friends. She purposely immersed herself in learning English trying hard not to fall into speaking Creole thinking it would set her off track. She was connected to another Haitian student who was helpful and then met her mentor, Ms. Vialla, who she is still in contact with and impacted by to this day. She speaks openly and honestly about trying to find her way in a new place, often feeling lost. Dr. Exantus is a UCONN alum but didn’t stay with her original plan of study to be an engineer. She felt it would be a difficult road as a black female and although her brother is an engineer and her 4 sisters are all nurses, she chose her own path focusing on social work. Now, as a doctor of Social Work, she is the Director of Middle School Programs at REACH Prep, a transformative educational program for high-achieving, yet underserved, children of color from 5th grade through college. She works diligently to transform their learning experience while providing essential support to the entire family. Additionally, she is the proud founder of Heart & Purpose, a nonprofit program that promotes education and economic empowerment for students from marginalized communities. Their focus is on young girls in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, as well as young females of color in lower Fairfield County and Westchester County, New York. Listening to her story while thinking about how her impact is affecting a new generation of young black females is nothing short of eye opening and breathtaking.

Joanne Jean is a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Haiti in the early 1990’s. In this first episode of our special series, Voices from Haiti, Joanne shares personal details about her journey being raised in a Haitian household and how she challenged the traditions along the way. As the first-born child and the eldest daughter, the responsibilities were heavy at times, and required her to be an “adult” a bit earlier than her peers. She often had to translate English and interpret financial statements, and while her friends were having sleepovers, she wasn’t allowed to go. Nevertheless, at the core of her upbringing, her parents raised her with connections to her Haitian culture deeply rooted in church, education and love for family. Joanne opens up about correcting culture while attempting to educate her parents about U.S. customs, and the various feelings and reactions that often accompanied her perceived defiance. As a proud graduate of Quinnipiac University, Joanne speaks about her education journey and the high expectations from her parents while they gently supported her along the way. Currently, she is a small business consultant and Program Coordinator, and it’s her upbringing and cultural awareness, along with her intercultural competence, that guide her impactful work. She credits her parents and family for her deep love and appreciation for the Haitian community she has successfully grown up in.

Kathi Meding is no beginner when it comes to service to others. In fact, her life has been embedded in finding agencies and a career that fits with her desire to help. In her years as a young mother she was the Director of Health & Fitness at a YMCA in New Jersey and while traveling on a trip to Africa representing the Y, she was contacted and offered the Executive Director position. She accepted, and upon her return, she never looked back while moving the YMCA in Ridgewood forward to new bounds. Throughout her long tenure, she witnessed and led her team through many changes, continuously adapting to the needs of the community and fostering agency partnerships along the way. She humbly discusses the board of directors she worked closely with, sharing that their individual and collective perspective kept the Y’s mission at the forefront for all decision making. She retired in 2010 but didn’t sit still for long as she embarked on teaching English to adult language learners focused on preparing immigrants for the U.S. Citizenship test. In her interview she shares heartfelt feelings of pride for the many adult students she has built relationships with through her tutoring while watching and encouraging their pathways to personal and professional success. In addition, she is a trained Hospice volunteer working with terminally ill patients supporting them with their health journey. She builds relationships with each person based on their needs and embraces them with her compassionate approach to care. Kathi also volunteers with The Village in Hartford, CT working to build a better future for children. In her storytelling, you’ll hear her quick wit, warm sense of humor and passionate approach to service is nothing short of extraordinary.

Edgar Bernabe is a first-generation Mexican American who has been balancing between his cultural roots from his parents and his birthplace for his whole life. As the youngest of 3 children, he had strong role models in his family when he was young. Growing up in his neighborhood he was a happy go lucky kid, always playing outside, watching cartoons, and living 2 different worlds. Edgar has always felt different because of his background, everyone always had to say who he was. He had most always felt included, but when he attended school is where he experienced bullying, exclusion and strong words from others that later made him realize he wasn’t completely accepted. Motivated by his father’s expectations to pursue a college degree, along with his mother’s unwavering support, he has excelled in many areas both at work and in education. A self-proclaimed “jack of all trades”, Edgar has found his place as an entrepreneur and is an expert in cocktail design. Along with his wife, Alexandra, they have built a business focused on hospitality and culinary education while excelling as experts in creating specialty pizzas and teaching. Their compatibility and partnership is what inspires Edgar to have strong boundaries protecting their days off to enjoy time together and with family. While others may be chasing dollar signs to get ahead, Edgar knows his happiness and success lies in the relationships he holds close to his heart.

Michelle A. Nicholas moved to the U.S. from her beloved native country, Guyana, in 2004. She shares the rich history and diversity of her homeland with deep pride and joy. The youngest of four children, Michelle reflects on the challenge of leaving her family, friends, and early career behind. Taking a leap of faith transformed her life, opening doors to unexpected opportunities. She recalls her first moments in New York, feelings of overwhelm alongside inspiration, and the intentional steps she took to build community in Westchester, NY. Motivated by the challenge, she sought connections that led to work, volunteering, and meaningful relationships. Michelle shares candidly about a moment of disappointment that became a transformative lesson. While raising her son, she found hope and purpose through mentoring, guided by her personal philosophy: “I lift as I climb — because no one should have to climb alone.” As an entrepreneur, business owner, leadership coach, organizational strategist, and community advocate, Michelle leads with vision and purpose across nonprofit, corporate, and global initiatives. Her firm, The NICO Consulting, builds sustainable partnerships, fosters inclusive communities, and creates pathways for individuals to thrive. Rooted in faith, joy, and a commitment to inspiring hope, Michelle’s story demonstrates the power of resilience, leadership, and authentic connection — and invites listeners to discover how one voice can make a lasting impact.

Divya Johnson moved from India with her family when she was 13 years old and in 8th grade. This fragile time in an adolescent’s life can be challenging for anyone, even without having the reality of living in a new country and learning a new culture. She shares details like going from an all-girls private school to co-ed public school in a new country posed new life lessons to navigate. Although her new school in the U.S. was diverse, there was only one other S. Asian student who really couldn’t be bothered with supporting her so she turned inward to embrace resilience and coping mechanisms on her own. Driven by self motivation and high expectations from her parents, she persisted in her academics despite some bumps along the way. She shares deep thoughts about being a single mother while paving the way to more acceptance and understanding that divorce can happen regardless of the cultural and family expectations that occur with an arranged marriage. She explains the stigma of divorce in India and the fear of disappointing family, but with perseverance she has opened the conversation and helped others see a new light on what has widely been frowned upon. She shares deep thoughts about raising 2 girls and co-parenting, while challenging the norms about mental health. Her faith and persistence are at the core of her personal growth and parenting style.

Kerry Brodie, Founder & Executive Director of Emma’s Torch, is creating pathways for refugees and immigrants one plate at a time. Founded in 2016, Kerry made a dramatic career decision that would change the trajectory of her own professional life but also for many others who would benefit from her creative vision. They have embraced and supported the refugee population for almost ten years by providing programming that develops culinary knowledge and practical skill development. She and her dynamic team have served over 600 students who receive practical instruction, English classes to enhance their hireability and language related to kitchen safety, and pathways to financial self-sufficiency. At the very core, they are building community steeped in integrity, inclusion and joy. With a myriad of partnerships to make their programs possible, their collaborations help to reduce barriers for students, as well as provide a pathway for referrals and opportunities. From opening their first cafe in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn to expanding into D.C. and Manhattan, they continue to transform lives and seek to propel their programs into Maryland soon. They have been featured on CNN, numerous articles in the NYT, WP and other publications, and were recently nominated for a RAMMY Award- a restaurant award category in D.C. With recent federal funding cuts affecting all nonprofits across the U.S., Emma’s Torch is strategically planning and examining creative fundraising to ensure their continued growth and development remains strong and consistent. Donate today to support their mission of empowering refugees to achieve their personal and professional dreams. You can find them at emmastorch.org

Edith Targonski arrived to the United States from Peru when she was 19 years old. Her sister had arrived a few years before and she was so happy about being reunited with her, but unhappy to speak English. She had visited the U.S. numerous times prior to her move but didn’t know much English and lacked confidence in her speaking skills. She soon met a fellow immigrant from Poland, who arrived at 17 years old with his parents. They fell in love and got married. Edith and her husband created a beautiful family blending and honoring their individual cultures from South America and Poland, while building their own family traditions. They learned English and raised their children in an English speaking household but also exposed their children to Spanish and Polish for them to have the opportunity to communicate with their grandparents and broaden their horizons. Since arriving twenty seven years ago, Edith has been very motivated to learn, grow her career and serve the community. She earned a special education degree from Sacred Heart Univ, and was an effective classroom teacher for many years. Currently, she serves as a passionate advocate for families who have children with special needs. She is a business development consultant. She has been a dedicated volunteer to many organizations, giving credit to her father for her need to give back and learning this from watching him. She has graduated about 9 senior citizens who have achieved citizenship under her tutelage at the Stamford Senior Center. She currently serves in the role of Editor-in-Chief of Latincolors magazine, which is a bilingual magazine that is widely circulated throughout Fairfield County, CT. and Westchester County, NY. The mission of Latincolors is to bridge both geographical and cultural communities and celebrate the accomplishments and endeavors of the people, agencies, groups and organizations making a positive impact in the community. It is available in both English and Spanish and is a free publication and available online. Like many other guests on the podcast, she was enrolled in the PLTI (Parent Leadership Training Institute). She has been a facilitator for People Empowering People-PEP and currently serves on the Design Team. In addition, she serves on numerous other boards in the community, all of them serving the immigrant and Latin communities in different ways, while raising her 3 children to be passionate, giving and kind people.

Rivca Zacharia’s family moved from Israel to the U.S. in 1967 when she was just 6 years old. Traveling by ship, her family (father, mother and sister) arrived in Brooklyn on a cold and snowy February day. She remembers the cold and how she and her sister hated it at first. On their way to the U.S. they stopped in Greece to visit her father’s parents, his sister and family. They spoke only Hebrew and Greek and soon after enrolling in school, she would begin learning English with her new Americanized name, Rifka, that her teacher said she must take. She was young and having to change her name in school was very confusing. Sadly, Rivca never had the opportunity to meet her maternal grandparents as they died at Auschwitz. Her mother was a concentration camp survivor but never spoke about it until they were much older when Rivca applied for reparations for her parents. Although it was for a good purpose, reliving this experience was very painful for her mother and for Rivca to learn about this in such detail was deeply upsetting. Her mother had endured grueling treatment. Growing up, her parents owned and operated a butcher shop in the Bronx and later owned a men’s clothing store in Queens. Her parents worked relentlessly, and also went to adult education to learn English. She inherited her parents work ethic and assisted them in the store while maintaining a full-time courseload as a student attending Queens College and later Yeshiva University for her master’s in school psychology. She’s worked in advertising and sales, and embraced her entrepreneurial spirit while owning and operating her own advertising company representing magazines for advertising sales and serving a large territory of publishers. She later felt called to return and get a 2nd masters in school psychology and currently works in a low socioeconomic school district supporting students and their families. Her role as a school psychologist is very rewarding, but presents deeply challenging issues. She continually seeks new and creative ways to make positive impact by providing resources and developing programs to enrich her student’s experience. Her personal struggles growing up as a young immigrant, and witnessing her parents strength and sacrifices has resulted in deep resilience and empathy which influences her approach to her work, raising her family and everyday life.

Amr Hallaba immigrated from Egypt in 1998 when he was just 16 years old joining his mother and sister who arrived before him. He stepped into his life in Georgia leaving behind all of his friends, his father, stepmother and stepsister. A new chapter was about to launch… with his high school diploma earned in Egypt it was now time to begin working while attending community college in the evening. His first job taught him hard work and resilience along with challenging, but impactful, techniques to manage conflict in the workplace. Moving into a new position in retail sales, he speaks fondly of his first mentor who worked closely with him in training and development, and how he worked his way to the #1 sales spot in the southern region. But, as a highly motivated and goal oriented professional, he wasn’t totally satisfied with how long it was taking him to reach his goals so he decided to change his pathway into the car business. This pivotal career move would influence the trajectory of his professional path where he would meet an impactful auto dealer owner/operator who would mentor him and invest in his future changing his life on numerous levels. At just 29 years old Amr became a General Manager and attended the NADA Dealer Academy. Today he is the COO of a large dealer group expanding across the Northeast and the South, and still loves speaking to customers when he walks through the showroom. Whether it’s navigating a customer issue or just a quick hello, he knows that a positive company culture is critical to success. With deep gratitude for his ample opportunities, he expresses an authentic statement to all immigrants…do not get discouraged, focus on your goal, and remember you can learn a lot from failures.

Mausumi Patra moved from India in 2014 with her husband and her 3 year old daughter. Settling into her new city with her husband at work all day she knew she needed community and went out into the unknown in search of making connection. As a naturally outgoing person, she sought out others from the neighborhood who were immigrants from India, but she wanted to expand her reach. She wholeheartedly took advantage of multiple services and resources, engaging in English as a Second Language classes and library programs for her daughter. She engaged in the PLTI (Parent Leadership Training Institute) program and even spoke at the capital in CT as an education advocate. This program dramatically changed her community engagement and her outlook on giving back through volunteering quickly evolved since it wasn’t something she engaged in while living in her native country. She has taught at the Hindi school for years which teaches children the language and the various customs and traditions of India. She continues teaching in Florida after recently relocating there for her husband’s career. She continues to seek community and builds connections wherever she goes. Mausumi’s advocacy skills are quite developed and you’ve never met a more empowered woman with strong negotiating skills. She continues to engage and work toward her goals seeking to build a network along the way. She currently works in a preschool and is surely modeling curiosity for learning while preparing the next generation of leaders.

Silvano De La Cruz immigrated from Peru with his mother and sisters after his father had left 18 months prior, setting their life and future up for them in the U.S. The day his father left for his journey to America, Silvano was 11 years old and was tasked with taking care of his sisters. They would receive sporadic letters or cassette tapes of his father’s recorded voice that he created for them on his journey to the U.S. Settling into his new life as a young teenager included learning a new language, making all new friends and getting a paper route job was how he first started his life in America. The road to Silvano’s current successful real estate career with Keller Williams was not a straight line but instead was filled with beautiful life lessons, love, and lots of hard work and resilience building his career. Partnering with his real estate team which includes his loving wife, is his focus these days in addition to raising his three children. He takes his role as a father seriously, learning from his own father that sometimes sacrifices are made for long term goals. He models love and commitment and imparts wisdom on them from his own life experiences while sharing his native language and Peruvian customs. He is humble about his journey to success in real estate and keeps his memories of harder times close to mind knowing how fragile life really is. He lives his life with deep gratitude for his family and looks forward to more traveling in the future.

Reverend Sara Smith, Esq. has a history deeply rooted in service and hard work. Growing up in Kentucky and helping with her 1000 acre family farm, she isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty. After passing the bar and working as a labor rights litigation attorney, she had a calling to attend Divinity school, which changed the trajectory of her career and life. Now, with 30 years of experience as an ordained clergywoman in the United Church of Christ, she continues to make an impact and isn’t slowing down anytime soon. As Senior Minister of United Congregational Church of Bridgeport located in CT, she is also CEO/President and Founder of the nonprofit nOURish BRIDGEPORT, Inc. which is a mission of the church working to provide resources and essential programs to those who need it most. nOURish is focused on community and provides critical resources including a weekly food pantry that serves over 500 families (2500 individuals) each week, ESL classes serving over 100 each week, a team of dedicated cooks that prepare 300 hot meals to the unhoused every week. In addition to all that, she is the creative mastermind behind the first non-profit indoor hydroponic farm in the state. In three years, they have produced over 17 TONS of produce that’s been distributed to their food insecure neighbors and residents of Bridgeport. Additionally, she is the Protestant Chaplain and Adjunct Instructor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. Reverend Sara is a proud advocate for the LGBTQ community and facilitates an Open and Affirming congregation in alignment with the mission of the United Church of Christ. She is truly an energizer bunny with a purpose of changing lives, creating opportunities and opening hearts.

Ola Bossio is an incredibly talented artist who immigrated from Poland in 1999 at just 20 years old. Joining her older sister who had arrived prior to Ola, she immediately immersed herself into English classes and began to work. Originally from north Poland, which borders Russia, she felt moving to the United States would bring more opportunities than under the regime she was living in. Living in a predominantly Polish neighborhood in CT she found community and initial comfort in being able to speak her native language and felt safe and free to express herself more openly. She met and fell in love with an American man and started her beautiful family while slowly dabbling in more painting and creative outlets. She paints landscapes of her favorite places in Poland which brings her peace and serenity. She describes Poland as a grey place because of the climate, but her paintings are full of natural color and celebrate the sky and vast fields of nature. Ola has been in art galleries and shows in Southport and Stamford, CT and was recently picked to show her work at the prestigious New Britain American Art Museum. She is incredibly proud of being picked for this showcase her work. Her life in the U.S. is deeply focused on family and faith and she’s abundantly grateful for all she’s been able to accomplish.

Urmi Hossain shares her sense of belonging in the world. As a proud South Asian woman who has an interesting and inspiring story that we can all learn from. Her family of origin roots are embedded in Bangladesh, as both parents are from there, but a few years before she was born, they emigrated to Sicily, Italy, for better opportunities. It is heard that Urmi was the first Bengali baby born in Sicily. She grew up speaking Bangla at home and Italian in school and with her friends. Currently, she lives in Montreal, Canada, and her multilingual and cultural influence is extraordinary. She speaks about being a “third culture kid,” which means her roots are embedded in one culture, while growing up in another, and then taking both of those backgrounds and moving to another country. When she relocated to Canada to attend university she was fluent in four languages: Bengali, Italian, English and French. She is currently learning Spanish which she knows is important for her work. Her philosophy and advice to immigrants is to integrate quickly and building a community is essential for growth. Urmi fell in love with the finance field while at university and now has a successful career as an investment associate. In her spare time over the last three years, she has managed her own YouTube page, which focuses on sharing study tips for the CFA exam, among many other interesting topics. She lives every day to its fullest and embraces new professional and personal challenges with grace. Her inner strength and resilience are evident at every turn as she finds that she belongs exactly where she is.

Diane Rosenthal, Executive Director at Student Advocacy, Inc. in Westchester, NY, is the epitome of servant leadership. Beginning her career as a middle school teacher, she moved from the classroom into the nonprofit world, leading the New York Public Library’s adult literacy program which served over 1000 students per year. Diane’s leadership helped shape the social and literacy skills needed for students to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. She remained in adult literacy for many years, leading Literacy Volunteers of Stamford, CT, which was ranked among the top 10% of volunteer-based programs nationally. A true visionary, she created programs and wrote grants that would significantly benefit the adult learner community. She also facilitated a successful merger with a larger non-profit program that resulted in more resources and programming to serve the needs of their clients. Diane currently leads Student Advocacy, an organization that provides legal representation and counsel on education related matters for families with children who have special needs due to disabilities or other challenges. Their services are free for families with limited resources.. Diane’s impact and leadership have been powerful over the decades of her career. She has made a significant difference in helping families, children, and youth in the areas of literacy, workforce development, and assistance for those facing challenges with the educational system. Student Advocacy will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Overcoming the Odds Awards Celebration on May 14th at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill, Tarrytown, NY, where they will honor students who have faced challenges, yet made education and giving back to others their priority.

Bonnie Solivan is a proud “Nuyorican”. This word refers to someone who has been raised in New York with deep ancestry and cultural traditions from the island of Puerto Rico. As a child of missionaries, she has lived in South and Central America, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and various boroughs in NYC, and her now in her current home in CT. Growing up, her family focused on education and learning, but she struggled with a learning disability not discovered and diagnosed until her freshman year in college. She describes living through shame, embarrassment, and bullying during her grade school years. Now, she is working on her fourth Master’s Degree and there seems to be no end in sight! In addition, to her career as an Instructional Designer and Educational Technology Coordinator at a community college, she is building a passion project, “Threads of Resilience”. This project is focused on honoring her beloved and proud roots as a Latina and building awareness of the Hispanic/Latino community across the world.

Valerie Wilson was the first person in her family to attend college and she knows how important this was for her career path. As a certified professional Career Coach and Resume Expert, she is committed to helping young and experienced professionals. Her experience in higher education working with undergraduate and graduate students truly helps soon-to-be graduates and job seekers focus on their goals for career next steps and Valerie is there to coach them on their journey. Working with immigrant or first generation American students has its own set of unique challenges but Valerie sees potential in everyone and is quick to offer guidance and useful advice. As an entrepreneur, she is passionate about her private practice, Career Coaching by Valerie, where she impacts professionals at all levels. She is engaging and warm, and knows how to empower people to pull out the very best they can offer a potential employer.

Flor De Hoyos is Latina from Puerto Rico who is a force to be reckoned with. Her career has been focused on advocacy and support to adult learners, children and their families, and it’s her personal experience that is the underlying tool to her professional effectiveness. Flor’s ability to connect and empathize with families in her district is the key to the overall success in her current role. After moving to the eastern section of Connecticut at age 12 and struggling to transition to a new school, she struggled with English as her second language and adapting to a new culture was challenging. She shares her educational journey from a vocational high school to Johnson & Wales for a culinary program, getting inspired and moving into programs for Human Services and Social Work, and now on her way to earning her Ph.D in Educational Leadership. The road has been long and challenging but as an incredible role model to her daughters, and impacting so many people around her, her success is deeply rooted in gratitude and faith.